If you’ve ever wondered why your piano starts to sound slightly off after a few months, you’re not alone. The secret to maintaining your instrument’s rich, resonant tone lies in regular piano tuning. At Piano-s, we focus on providing dependable and accurate piano tuning services, with expertise that extends beyond just tightening some strings. Whether it’s a private home or a professional concert venue, as a trusted piano tuner in Sussex we have helped thousands of clients return their piano to its original sound.
In this blog we will reveal the processes involved during a piano tuning appointment, what the importance of your piano tuning really is and how tuning compares to other kinds of piano maintenance, such as repairs or piano regulation.
What is Piano Tuning and Why Does It Matter?
Piano tuning is the careful adjustment of the tension on each of your piano’s strings so they will vibrate at the correct frequency. This allows your piano to produce accurately pitched notes. As time goes on these tensions will change–either because of temperature, humidity, or just regular use. Unfortunately, all of these factors contribute to your piano going out of tune.
Even if you are not a professional musician, the sound of an out-of-tune piano can make your skin crawl. Tuning your piano allows the tone to be clean, and warm, and contributes to the overall beauty of the instrument.
At Piano-s, we have experienced technicians that understand the delicate mechanics not only of the strings and hammers, but also of embracing the tuning pins. We don’t just make your piano sound good—we help it stay in optimal condition for longer.
Inside the Tune-Up: What Really Happens During a Piano Tuning Session
A lot more happens during tuning than most people think. When you book a session with a piano tuner in Sussex from Piano-s, here’s what you can expect:
1. Pre-Tuning Inspection
We will first determine the overall condition of the piano and look for anything that will affect the tuning and/or the tuning process. We want to make sure there are no loose pins, cracks in the soundboard, worn hammers, or anything else that would hold up the tuning.
2. Pitch Raise (If Needed)
If, for example, you have not had the piano tuned in several years, we may want to first do a pitch raise, or quick pre-tune of the piano to bring all of the strings closer to standard pitch and place us in a better position to fine-tune it when we have completed the pitch raise.
3. Fine Tuning
Using a tuning lever and our ears (many times with an app for specific fine-tuning), we will tune each string to match the reference pitch. Regardless of the tonality we are expecting we usually go right to left from the middle octave, and then extend towards the bass and treble.
4. Tonal Adjustments
If it still sounds out of whack after the tuning you may be looking for tonal adjustments. This is the process of changing the quality of the tone by working with the hammers and felt, commonly referred to as voicing.
5. Final Testing
We will finally test each key and make sure the tuning holds, and every note goes well with the next. The goal is consistency across the keyboard, whether you’re playing softly or with full expression.
This level of care sets us apart. As a piano repairs specialist as well as tuners, we often identify minor issues early—saving you from costly repairs in the future.
How Often Should You Tune Your Piano?
You generally want to tune your piano at least every six months, but some pianists, especially if their piano gets used often or the piano is also used frequently in a room with changing temperature or humidity, could benefit from tuning it as often as quarterly.
When you search online for piano tuning near me, you will get many different results. However, only a few services—like the service for tuning your piano at Piano-s—is both convenient and value for money, and only a few services provide the kind of technical expertise you get from us.
Here’s Why Piano-s should be Your First Choice for Tuning!
🎵 Local Knowledge: We’re a trusted piano tuner in Sussex, so we know what the local climate is like and how that climate can affect your instrument.
🎵 One-to-one service: We won’t send random staff, we take personal responsibility for each and every booking, we don’t look to cut corners, we are all about ensuring quality and trust!
🎵 Ground-Floor Friendly: If your home, school, church or studio is on the ground floor we are the ideal choice for you.
🎵 Honest, transparent pricing: No hidden charges, no crafty upselling and we respect that you spend money on quality instrument care.
We also provide helpful advice and maintenance tips for our customers as part of our service after our visit helping you look after your piano whilst you wait for your tuning. Whether you are a casual player, or an elite concert pianist, we want to help you and your instrument receive the kind of attention it deserves!
Your Piano Deserves the Best – Let Piano-s Help
At Piano-s, we consider tuning to be an art and a task based on science too. It is more than just hitting the right note, it is a very small fragment of what goes into a piano; a note only exists because of the expensive materials and craftsmanship that went into each key, string and soundboard.
As a Piano Tuning provider with an increasing footprint in Sussex and neighbouring areas, we take pride in our attention to detail and our bespoke service.
Don’t settle for an out of tune, or poorly maintained instrument. If you’re looking for piano tuning near me, search for a name you can trust; whether that is tuning, minor adjustments, or simply advice from a piano repairs professional, we are never more than a message away.
Contact Us
Prepared for your piano to have the tuning it deserves? To book a piano tuning appointment, visit https://piano-s.com or call us directly for advice and availability. We are happy to serve clients across Sussex, Hampshire, and Surrey.
For help outside of office hours, you can always contact us via email or reach out to us using the contact form on our website. We look forward to helping you hear your piano at its best.
FAQs
Q1. How long does a typical piano tuning take?
A typical tuning will take about 1 to 2 hours, depending on the condition of the piano and whether the piano has pitched to a different note.
Q2. Do I need to prepare to move my piano before tuning it?
No. We tune your piano in its resting state, provided the area is quiet and you do not disturb us during the tuning.
Q3. Can you fix broken keys or broken strings when you tune me?
Yes, repairs can be made based on the repair needed (sticky key or broken string). For any repairs needed that affect the tuning (large repair), we will advise on the best next step.